Hampden County District Attorney Mark Mastroianni, left, said "We are in crisis mode," and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, right, said "... it is essential we hit back and we hit back hard," when discussing a crackdown on the spate of violence in Springfield.

The announcement occurred Thursday afternoon following a summer-long spate of violence, recent meetings of law enforcement officials and a closed-door, noontime summit at City Hall. The summit was attended by law enforcement leaders and invited youth and neighborhood organizations, community activists and clergy.

“Right now, we have to bring relief to the good people (of Springfield),” Sarno said. “Right now it is essential we hit back and we hit back hard.”

Since July 3, the city has had five homicides. There have been 13 homicides this year.

There also have been numerous shootings and stabbings, often involving young people, and often being gang- or drug-related, officials said.

The crackdown will especially target some of the most troublesome areas including the Mason Square area and Lower Forest Park and involves a coordinated effort by all law enforcement agencies, officials said.

Others who spoke of the expanded enforcement included Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni, Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet, and representatives of the state police, FBI, the U.S. Marshal’s office, U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Probation Office and Sheriff Michael Ashe.

Mastroianni said he believes the city has reached the point of “crisis mode” with the spate of violence, guns, shootings and stabbings, predominantly young people.

Mastroianni said he “authorizes and encourages” law enforcement to increase their efforts to break up gang activity, increase traffic stops, talk to people on the streets, and to become more aware of parties that might get out of hand.

Certain people are “terrorizing neighborhoods,” Mastroianni said. Sarno said a very small percentage of people are causing the trouble, and repeated his call for stronger parental involvement.

Announcements of crackdowns on gangs and violence have occurred in the past. In 1995, city and state officials announced they were spending $398,000 for expenses including police overtime and calling in state troopers to help patrol crime-plagued areas.

And in June of 2005, sweeps in Springfield and Holyoke by more than 200 members of the FBI’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force resulted in dozens of arrests of reputed gang members and their associates.

Some of the residents who attended Thursday’s summit said they welcome the pledge for an aggressive crackdown, which is planned to continue through the summer months.

“We are glad to hear it,” said Leo Florian, president of the South End Citizens Council. “The bottom line is, we just want to live in peace.”

Ida Flynn, second vice-president of the NAACP and a Sixteen Acres resident, said the effort “is encouraging but it’s late.” Flynn said she has lived in Springfield approximately 50 years, and believes the violence “is at its peak.”

“I’ve seen it bad, but too many young people are getting killed,” Flynn said. “Basically, it’s drug involvement, they are in gangs because of drugs. Parents have to get involved and know where their kids are and doing.”

City Council President Jose F. Tosado, a candidate for mayor, conducted his own press conference Thursday on the steps of City Hall, offering his own anti-crime ideas. He said the talk of “zero tolerance” in reaction to crime during an election year is a matter of “same old, same old.”

Tosado said his proposed initiatives include: proactive policing; getting guns off the street through measures including creation of a special unit or “gun squad” and establishing a gun court in Springfield; rebuilding trust including resurrection of a full Police Commission and Youth Commission; reducing recidivism with stronger inter-agency and community partnerships; and addressing root causes of crime including a fight against unemployment, failing schools and health disparities.

Mayoral candidate Antonette Pepe, a member of the School Committee, has previously called for a “zero tolerance” policy on violence and increased police visibility.